Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister Kim Jung-kwan) announced that it will officially open the Korea–Mongolia Rare Metals Cooperation Center on Friday, December 12, at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology in Ulaanbaatar. Implemented as a grant-based ODA program, the center will receive approximately KRW 9.8 billion in support for its establishment and operation from 2023 to 2027. About 150 participants are expected to attend the opening ceremony, including representatives from Mongolia’s Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry (MMHI), the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority, and the Geological Center for Research and Analysis (GCRA), as well as officials from MOTIR, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM).

Since 2023, MOTIR has been promoting the establishment and operation of Rare Metals Cooperation Centers through ODA programs to strengthen cooperation in critical mineral supply chains. The Mongolia center is the first to open among the five centers currently under development with countries such as Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia.

Jointly operated by KIGAM and Mongolia’s GCRA, the center will analyze tungsten, molybdenum, lithium, and other rare metals found in Mongolia, while providing technical training in mineral processing, refining, and smelting. These activities aim to support Mongolia in enhancing the value of its rare metal resources and linking them to viable production.

MOTIR stated that the launch of the center marks a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation on critical minerals and affirmed its commitment to continue supporting the center’s operations, thereby contributing to the development of Mongolia’s rare metals industry and strengthening Korea’s medium- to long-term supply chain stability.